Medicaid Expansion Shows the Need for Better Policies

"Medicaid Expansion Drives Up Visits to ER," emphasizes the need for patient education.

Jan. 21, 2014 1:23 p.m. ET

"Medicaid Expansion Drives Up Visits to ER" (page one, Jan. 3) emphasizes the need for patient education and improved access to health-care services. These goals should be the next top priorities in health-care reform.

As described in the journal Science, the research provides a snapshot of recently covered Medicaid beneficiaries' emergency-department use in Oregon. The research highlights the need for all involved—emergency-department staff, community-based health professionals, insurance companies and...